Once Removed Episode 23: Naming Guardians for Minor Children
It is easy to mistakenly assume that naming a guardian in estate planning documents is only critical for individuals with minor children. In reality, however, appointing a guardian is just as important for parents as it is...more
As the chair of the Elder Law Practice Group, I see a lot of issues that the firm’s clients encounter in their personal lives. As we begin the new year, I thought it appropriate to write about the areas of our practice that...more
Individuals with a disability or special needs (hereafter, the “individual”) frequently have a team of people providing them the care and assistance they require. For families managing this care team, there is an...more
Adult guardianship is a legal relationship in which a person (the “guardian”) is appointed by a court to make decisions on behalf of another adult (the “ward”). Adult guardianship arrangements are meant to benefit and protect...more
You have completed and executed your plan for your special needs child. Everyone you’ve selected to serve—your guardian, your trustee, your health care proxy, your executor, and possibly a trust protector as well—has signed...more
Everyday individuals unfortunately are injured across North Carolina in all sorts of different ways—from car wrecks, to "slip/trip and falls," to other accidents. And, sadly, these injuries sometimes involve children or...more
President Obama just signed a new law that allows First Party Special Needs Trusts to be established by mentally competent individuals for their own benefit. This is a major “fix” to the current law which only allows First...more
Imagine how you would feel if you walked into your bank, asked for a summary of your account activity and the bank told you that it had no idea how much money was in your account or how it had been spent. Of course, this...more